The controversy surrounding the arrest and planned deportation of rapper 21 Savage by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has taken another turn, as celebrities such as DJ Khalid, Cardi B and Meek Mill and others join popular black American human rights group Black Lives Matter to protest the deportation of 21 Savage through #free21savage.
The Black Lives Matter has put out a petition demanding that the rapper is released from custody as what happened was not his fault, and having lived in America for years, with children and family members, even giving back to his community, it makes no sense to try and deport him now.
The #Free21Savage petition which is now trending on social media was put out by Patrisse Khan-Cullors who is a key member of the Black Lives Matter advocacy group, who are claiming that 21 Savage is being persecuted for colour and as a minority in America.
The statement reads:
“The circumstances of Mr. Abraham-Joseph’s detention stand as a testament to the consistent and historically under-reported harassment and targeting of Black immigrants,” the post reads. “The US’ violent history of criminalizing Blackness intersects with its deadly legacy of detaining and deporting Black and Brown immigrants. This needs to stop today!
“There are around 4.2 Million Black immigrants in the U.S. – 619,000 are undocumented,” the petition reads. ” Mr. Abraham-Joseph has been in the United States since he was a young child. Atlanta is his home.”
The likes of Meek Mill, DJ Khalid and Cardi B have all shown their support through the #free21savage movement. See all their posts:
Meek Mill: #free21 let’s help my dawg get back to work and his family! Stay strong dawg!
iamcardib: We will read and educate ourselves on this situation and we will take action! 21 did not come here illegally and was not caught doing anything illegal or doing any mischief! in fact he have change his whole life around and as ya can see he’s been very positive in his actions and music ! Now let me get ghetto ….and for ya dick breath motherfuckers talking bout “sO hE nOt FrOm AtLaNta “ he grew up there !his kids and family live there and BLEW UP there with the support of the community he was raised in.Thank you @21savage for being really good friend to me and @offsetyrn and always coming thru when we need you .
djkhaled: @21savage He is a father, my friend, and a great person who gives back to his community. Bless Up!